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09-11-2024, 12:00 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 1
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How Much To Offer?
I am sure that this question has been asked many times on this forum, but after a little searching I did not find a recent thread containing this information. My wife and I are considering buying a coach as a temporary living space while we relocate west coast to east coast. As we have started shopping and deciding what features/layouts we want in the coach I am having some trouble deciding what I should offer for the various coaches we come across.
My question to the forum is: Are there sort of ‘standard’ rules that apply to this sort of thing? Meaning whatever the coach is listed at it is ok to offer 10-20% less or something like that? We have a defined budget in mind so it would be nice to know how far above that budget we can ‘shop’ knowing that there is a realistic chance we could get the price down to our budget. Certainly every situation is different and every coach is different, but I just want to make sure I do not offend anyone with low-ball offers or overpay for a coach when I could have moved the price point down a little.
Thank you in advance for any feedback/advice!!!
Bob
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09-11-2024, 12:07 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: WI Driftlesser
Posts: 2,586
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I don't know what the middle and top of the market are like, but offering 20% less would be standard for most, they can always be offended if they want, or negotiate with you if they're motivated to sell. If it's facebook or marketplace you can see how old the ad is, so if it's been up more than a month, going into fall or it seems overpriced, feel free to offer less than 80%.
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09-11-2024, 12:10 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,442
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first you need to shop around and get an idea what prices are. RV Trader and online sales places are a good start. when you're looking at an RV and you decide its what you want. but at 60k its to much, but at 50K you would buy it. so offer 45k maybe the seller will come back at 50K. or offer 50k, if the seller says no walk away there are more for sale.
Jay D.
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09-11-2024, 01:54 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,419
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There is nothing different/magical (price-wise) about buying an RV. It is like anything else you might buy on the used market. Sometimes items (RVs) will be priced too low and they will be gone/sold instantly. In that case, offering less than the asking price likely wouldn't work. Other times, items (RVs) are overpriced and they will sit on the market. Those obviously would be ripe for offering less than the asking price. You should never worry about offending a complete stranger who is selling their RV!
Unless you are an RV expert, when buying I would strongly recommend you get it inspected by a professional RV inspector. Could save you 10s of thousands of dollars, or give you items to use to negotiate the price lower, or give you the info you need to walk away, or give you peace of mind.
Good luck!
Chris
__________________
2 x 2015 Thor Majestic 28a 30' Class C. Ford e450 v10. 500w solar. 2000w inverter. 200AH
2013 Coachmen Leprechaun 210QB 23' Class C. Ford e350 v10. 300w solar. 1100w inv. 220AH
*** Addicted to mods and tinkering ***
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09-11-2024, 02:38 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,545
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Most companies have a 20% after tax profit target. So thinking that there is about 20% bump in the asking price is not a bad assumption.
However, with a private sale .... who knows? the informed buyer knows. So research is your friend. Condition and maintenance history has more to do with value than age or miles on the clock.
The other issue is that a coach that will make you really happy while you own it is worth more than one you do not like. That is why layout is so important. A wife who hates the husband using her bathroom needs a bath and a half. Not being able to access the bathroom with the slides in is going to be a problem.
Personally, I think your idea is crazy. But it's your life and budget. Normally I'd suggest a long term rental, but that could get pricy. You can do deliveries for a rental company and get a great discount.
If this is an experiment to see if the RV life is for you and $$$s are not a problem, maybe the idea is not so bad. Only you can decide.
As stated above. Research the online used RVs for sale and follow them for 3-4 months. Recognize that the RV market has been in turmoil since Covid. Consider small to learn and bigger if the lifestyle works.
If you are a DIY person, that is a big positive. If you are a pay the pro - go back to the crazy comment.
Yes, the 20% off list is not bad. You might start at 30 and see what develops. However if you really like it and the rig passes a pro inspection, work a deal and buy it.
__________________
Travel Safe and with a Smile! Pat
2020 Tiffin Breeze 33BR
2022 Cherokee Trailhawk toad
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01-10-2025, 03:44 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 28,513
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As others have already said, you have to do enough research legwork to have some notion of pricing, both "asking" and "getting". For dealers you can assume there is probably some fat in the asking price, i.e. what they hope to get vs what they might accept.The way to find out is to make a lower offer and see how strong they push back. But a dealer probably knows when he has a hot seller vs a "lot queen" that hangs on & on, so may hold to his price if he figures it will be in high demand. But if a low demand rig, he may already have cut the price.
Private sellers are more likely to be all over the map on asking prices. Many simple can't conceive of how much a used RV depreciates. Nor that the market value is less than they still owe on the loan. You have to know the market well enough to have a clue what is the right ball park. And yes, season can have a big effect on the price.
Equally important is the value to you. If it's the exact size/layout/color etc you and your spouse want, it's worth it to pay at the upper end of the range rather than hold out for some typical discount you heard about on the internet. Similarly, prime condition and obvious owner care are worth a premium price.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is now West Palm Beach, FL
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01-11-2025, 02:34 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: NJ
Posts: 727
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FWIW, I would suggest you decide what your budget would allow and home in on the RV's in that price range.
Then focus on the floorplan, layout, amenities etc. that you would be happy with.
At that point you will have amassed enough information to decide which one's to make offers on.
If buying new, insist on a guided tour to confirm everything works and how to operate the systems.
If buying used, be sure to get an inspection done, as previously recommended.
Dont be afraid to walk away if your first offer is refused and they wont negotiate.
Then comes the tough choice, to make a counter offer or walk away.
Purchasing late in the year helps quite a bit in getting a better price.
It worked for me.
Best of luck in your purchase.
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01-11-2025, 03:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Fulda, MN
Posts: 1,879
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Two years ago, I was looking for a different coach. I found one I liked and it was really tough on the outside. It looked like it had sat in the Arizona sun all of it's 22 years. It was way overpriced for the condition but appeared sound otherwise. By the next fall they had reduced it from 30k down to 15k and it ended up at the auction so I don't know what it ended up selling for. So knowing what to offer is a hard topic to put a definite number on.
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2000 Winnebago Adventurer 32v, P32 Workhorse
2005 Winnebago Adventurer 38J W24 Workhorse 8.1l, 5 Speed Allison MH2000
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01-12-2025, 11:27 AM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 28,513
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Quote:
FWIW, I would suggest you decide what your budget would allow and home in on the RV's in that price range.
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Simple advice, but if you assume the asking price is inflated and the selling price will be less, then which price do you compare to your budget limit? The best I can say is that you should not rule out an asking price that is a little above your budget, but trying to put a percentage value on "a little above" is pure guesswork.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is now West Palm Beach, FL
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01-16-2025, 05:28 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Apollo Beach & Key West , FL
Posts: 4,152
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We went to the Tampa RV show yesterday. Pretty much all brands were offering 30%+ off MSRP. This was Newmar,Tiffin,Entrgra and as I walked around, same with towables.
Those were the posted prices... now if you were a serious buyer, I imagine, you could work even a better deal.
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2013 DS 4338
2015 F-150 toad with kayaks,bicycles and a Harley in the back
new toad 2023 Sprinter with all the toys inside
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01-16-2025, 09:26 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 16,203
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Depend on who the seller it.
A dealer will have priced a rig knowing they'll negotiate down. If a rig has been sitting on a lot for a while they may be willing to drop it more.
A private owner will depend on motivation. Are they selling to get out from underneath the load, if so they may be asking high to cover the load. If they are selling because they are looking at upgrading the motivation may be to sell as fast as possible and be more likely to negotiate. If a seller is getting out of the rig because it is "time" they also may be willing to deal.
Do your research, look at as many coaches as you can, keep a record of likes and dislikes and prices. Narrow the search down. You may get lucky and find what you like.
I'd suggest offering low, knowing you can go high. Try to keep emotions out of it. Set a max price you want to pay and walk away if you don't get it.
__________________
Jim J
2002 Monaco Windsor 38 PKD Cummins ISC 350 8.3L
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/5.7 Hemi
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01-16-2025, 09:39 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2024
Location: Nevada
Posts: 290
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Use comparable sales just like with real estate.
Offer whatever makes you comfortable.
People can ask whatever they want. The worst that can happen is that you offend someone and they don't want to sell to you.
Know what the rig you are looking at is worth. Adjust up or down based on condition and any extras.
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01-16-2025, 11:22 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 6,907
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PanJH
We went to the Tampa RV show yesterday. Pretty much all brands were offering 30%+ off MSRP. This was Newmar,Tiffin,Entrgra and as I walked around, same with towables.
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We also walked around. We saw 24% to 26% on the ones I calculated and we were looking solely at DP's. One 2025 American Coach we were interested in was 36% off MSRP at $600K for the 605 HP engine. But the dealer (General RV) had new 2024's with the 450 HP engine listed for $480K. The salesperson said the options were the same but somewhat different colors.
Methinks I'm going to spend $150 to get an appraisal on ours so I have realistic expectations for a trade-in or private sale from: https://rvpricingandappraisals.com/
They use only "as actually sold for" price data that they pay for.
As an aside, we bought ours brand new in 2019 for $115K. I just met someone with the exact same model and model year who bought theirs used in 2024. They were very happy because they talked Camping World down from $120K to $110K.
They asked if I would say what we paid new. I said they might not want to know but they assured me they did. When I told them they said they were glad they did not know but still felt they got a good deal because they compared the current new prices to what they paid and there was tens of thousands of dollars of difference.
That actually opened me up to how potential new buyers might think; that the massive inflation in MSRP in recent years could work in my favor when it comes time to sell.
All while I'm thinking "Man, I would have sold ours to you for that price easily."
Ray
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2020 Forest River Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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